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Huatulco

M E X I C O

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GENERAL INFORMATION Huatulco is a resort community on the Pacific coast of El Estado de Oax-aca. It is located near the southwest tip of Mexico. Stretching for over fifteen miles, the nine large bays and countless inlets that indent this beautifully rug-ged region of the coast are collectively referred to as Bahias de Huatulco. This is where the mountains of Sierra Madre del Sur reach the eastern Pacific Ocean.The center of the resort area is the town and bay of Santa Cruz. It is in this area that most of the private villas, large hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants are located. It is also here that cruise ships, pleasure crafts and fishing boats sail into port. It was not un-til the mid 1980s that Mexico’s National Office of Tourism started to move forward with the plans to develop this beautiful coastline into a wonderful re-sort area. But to the great credit of the government of Mexico, rather than “paving paradise” and putting up a hotel … the entire region and ecosystem were respectfully taken into consideration. Not only were thousands of acres of coastline, both under water and on land, set aside as a federally protected national park, the resort area was designed and built with the health of the stunning yet delicate marine environ-ment in mind. Consequently the fresh water supply is carefully managed, cleaned and purified with no discharge released into the pristine bays. Bahias de Huatulco is one of the most beautiful sites in all of Mexico…and with continued planning and vigilance it will remain so far into the future.

…a few pronunciation tips and translations:Huatulco - wah-Tool-coOaxaca - wah-Haa-kaPlaya - Beach Bahia - Bay

HISTORY Located in the southwest of the country, stretching east from the Pacific coast, much of the Mexican state of Oaxaca remains ruggedly beautiful. Parts of the region are some of the most produc-tive lands in the country. The earliest known inhabitants seem to have been an Indian tribe known as the Zapotec. Archeologists have traced their culture back to at least 500 BC. These were a highly sophisticated people that had developed an extensive calendar, complex celestial ob-servatories, stone and motor architecture, sports stadiums, perhaps the earliest writing in the Americas, and intricate religious practices that included human sacrifice.

The skill of Zapotec artisans in the fashioning of gold and silver was admired throughout many of the Mesoamerican tribes, nations and em-pires. Even the great Aztec king Montezuma II brought Zapotec gold-smiths into his palace to produce many of the fine pieces that adorned the mighty ruler. Throughout the region, in such places as the ancient ceremonial center of Monte Albán, located near the State Capital of Oaxaca City, the archeological remains of this finely constructed hilltop site, with its sports venues and temples, bears testament to this amaz-ing civilization. The Zapotec were eventually driven off or assimilated by the more powerful Mixtec tribe in the early 1200s AD. In the mid 1400s the mighty Aztec Empire absorbed much of the region of Oaxaca but their days were destined to be short in number.

By all accounts the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés was a brutal and ambitious man. This was the standard rather that the exception dur-ing Spain’s conquest of the Americas. Following his victory over the

HuatulcoM E X I C O

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Aztecs in 1520 Cortés ruled Mexico with an iron hand. Much of the Indian population was enslaved or died from diseases hith-erto unknown in the Americas and introduced from Europe by the Spaniards.

The fertile lands around Oaxaca’s central valley produced an abundant crop of fruit and vegetables, and with the coming of the Spanish, wheat and sugarcane were introduced. The small town of Huatulco grew into a vital port that supplied goods and produce to other regions along the Pacific coast. Huatulco be-came such an important town that in the late 1500s it attracted the attentions of the famous English pirates Thomas Cavendish and the notorious and much feared (by the Spanish at least) Sir Francis Drake.

Huatulco eventually faded into obscurity and morphed into a quiet coffee growing region and a sleepy little fishing commu-nity until 1984 when the country’s national tourism office saw the potential of building a world class resort destination while at the same time protecting and preserving some of the most beautiful coastline in all of Mexico.

HUATULCO AREA PLACES OF INTEREST

The bays and beaches in the area of Huatulco are collectively known as “Bahias de Huatulco”. There are 9 bays with 36 beau-tiful beaches up and down this Pacific coastal region. Some of the beaches have amenities like cafes and water sports while other are secluded, some of which are even accessible only by boat. We have taken the opportunity to list just a few beaches starting near the town of Santa Cruz and continuing east along the coast. To be fair, there are a lot of great and mostly secluded beaches west of Santa Cruz such as Playas San Agustín and Ca-caluta however we just can’t list them all. There are also many other beaches, large and small, located in between those that we mention here.

1 Playa Maguey is a nice sandy beach about ¼ miles long. This is a fine spot for snorkeling and swimming and there

are some beachside cafes for snacks and cold drinks.

2 Playa La Entrega means “the delivery”. This beach is nice for snorkeling and swimming. There are many beachside

cafes as well as bathroom facilities available for a small fee.

As a side note; it was here that General Vicente Guerrero (a national hero of Mexico) was delivered, after being betrayed and captured at sea, shortly after Mexico’s war of independence from Spain.

3 Playa Santa Cruz is the most popular beach in the area. This beach is also good for snorkeling and swimming.

There are numerous cafes as well as water sports rentals. Near-by there are additional restaurants and shops.

4 Playa Tangolunda is a ½ mile long. As a resort beach it has all the amenities. Most of the high end hotel resorts and an

upscale residential area are located here.

5 Playa Arena and Playa Punta Arena are located on Conejos Bay. These beaches are good for swimming and

snorkeling however the waves, depending on the season, can be powerful. If the waves are breaking, it is recommended that only strong and experienced swimmers and snorkelers enter the water here. The beach has cafes available for food and drink.

Beyond Huatulco

The Huatulco National Park is one of Mexico’s many natural jewels. Combining the protected waters of the numerous bays together with the nature reserve on shore, the park encompasses an area of nearly 30,000 acres. The park is an amazingly vibrant living laboratory of marine and animal life as well as home to thousands of species of plants, reptiles, birds and butterflies. The park’s administration and staff have worked tirelessly to protect this spectacular environment while at the same time providing researchers, educators and visitors the opportunity to study or simply enjoy the wonders of this natural sanctuary.

SHORE ExCURSIONS To make the most of your visit to Huatulco and surrounding areas we suggest you take one of the organized Shore Excursions. For more information, please con-sult your Shore Excursion Brochure or contact the Shore Excur-sion Desk. When going ashore, be advised to take with you only necessary items and secure any valuables onboard.

LOCAL CUSTOMS Bargaining: Though prices in restaurants and stores are usually fixed, bargaining is often practiced in open markets and with street vendors.

Tipping: A tip of 15% or more is appropriate in restaurants. Check your bill, because a 10% service fee may already be added.

Local Cuisine: As a coastal town Huatulco is known for its va-riety of fresh seafood dishes. Some favorites include: Pacific lobster – usually served with lemon and butter or in a salad with greens. Tacos de pescado, are tacos made with lightly fried fish and corn tortillas, topped with a variety of condiments. The lo-cal bakeries are famous for their wonderful breads such as pan dulce, orejas and cochinitos. For those feeling adventurous…request a side dish of chapulines. They are often boiled, served with lemon juice and garlic and have a nutty crunch to them.

They are a traditional regional favorite and are said to be tasty and nutritious. We will keep the translation secret and only drop the hint that chapulines hop in the grass.

Drink Specialties: Mezcal compares favorably to tequila. The drink is made by distilling the juice of the hearts of the maguey plant that have been slow roasting for days in an earthen pit lined with red-hot stones and covered with leaves.

SHOPPING The old section of Santa María Huatulco and the communities of La Crucecita and Santa Cruz have some great shops. Some of the most popular items include leather goods, wonderfully designed silver jewelry, handmade carpets and arts and crafts.

LOCAL CURRENCY The peso (MxN) is Mexico’s official currency. The symbol ($) refers to pesos, not U.S. dollars, un-less specifically noted. ATM’s are usually available, especially in heavily trafficked tourist areas.

POST OFFICE AND TELEPHONE FACILITIES The Post Of-fice is located one mile from port on Santa Cruz Boulevard, in front of the gas station.

Dial the following access numbers to use a personal calling card:

AT&T: 0.800.288.2872 or 001.800.462.4240MCI: 001.800.674.7000

TRANSPORTATION Car rentals are available and taxis are plentiful.

TOURIST INFORMATION The Tourist Bureau has a table at the head of the pier where maps and information are available.

USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES

Yes - Si No - No Hello - ¡Hóla! Good Bye - Adiós Please - Por favorThank-you - Gracias You’re welcome - De nada.